14 Life-Changing Wine Hacks You Need to Know

This Summer, we’ve teamed up with Ringbolt to optimize your wine drinking experience. Whether your pair your wines with BBQ, sip on it with friends at a park or settle down with it after a long day’s work, you’re sure to appreciate these wine hacks.

If you’re like us, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of a glass of wine after a long day of work. Besides being strong believers in savouring every last drop, wine also deserves a certain level of appreciation for all the stressful times it’s helped us through. That’s why we’ve rounded up 14 life-changing wine hacks to make every wine experience one for the books.

Freeze Leftover Wine in Ice Cube TraysInstead of tossing leftover sips, freeze the remaining wine in an ice cube tray and pop one out the next time you cook. It’s a great way to add flavour to your dish.

Open a Wine Bottle with a KeyDon’t have a wine opener? Before the panic sets in, take a deep breath and reach for your keys. Insert the key at a 45-degree angle. Twist, pull and voila! The cork has been removed.

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Know Your Wine Pairings… Or at Least Pretend you doAs we mature, so do our palettes, which means boxed wine just ain’t gonna cut it. Learning the cardinal rules of wine and food will take your next meal up a notch – and hey, getting schooled in wine doesn’t sound too bad to us either. Serving up juicy meats like steak, sausage or lamb? Pair it with a cabernet sauvignon. No time to memorize? No worries. There are tons of great resources on the interweb and apps you can download straight to your phone, too!

Chill Wine in Five Minutes with SaltWe get it… Sometimes you just can’t wait to have that well-deserved glass of wine! Don’t suffer through drinking lukewarm syrup, throw a handful of salt in a bucket of icy water and your wine will be good to go in five minutes.

Couldn’t finish the bottle? Save it in a Mason JarIf you’ve got a glass or two of wine left in your bottle, make it last a little longer by pouring it into a smaller container. By doing this, you’re reducing the amount of oxygen the wine is exposed to and slowing down the oxidation process. A mason jar makes the perfect vessel for your wine, as its rings and lids make for an airtight seal.

Open a Bottle with a Nail and PliersWhile we’re assuming everyone has a set of keys, if you’ve misplaced them, there’s another way to open a cork-topped bottle. Put a nail in at an angle and then pull out the cork with a pair of pliers.

Wrap Wine in A Wet Towel to Chill FasterAnother great way to chill wine is by simply wrapping the bottle in a wet towel and sticking it in the freezer.

Strain Cork Bits with a Coffee FilterIf you messed up the “key trick” from earlier, don’t sweat it. Strain any cork bits out of the wine using a coffee a filter while you pour.

Neutralize Red Wine Stains with Household IngredientsFight fire with fire. Remove a pesky wine stain using… wait, what? Yes, more wine. Dilute the area with white wine to lift the stain, blot with salt and then rinse with club soda.

Invest in a Wine Preserver
Make your wine last longer by investing in wine preserver like a vacuum stopper. The vacuum slows down the oxidation process, meaning you can enjoy your wine for days! Just be mindful, some stoppers are inferior to others – be sure to read reviews online or speak to a local wine expert to ensure you get the most bang for your buck.

Keep Wine Chilled with Frozen GrapesInstead of chilling your wine with ice cubes, next time use some frozen grapes. Not only does it look appealing, but the grapes won’t dilute the wine. This trick tastes best with white wines.

Use Leftover Wine to Make DessertAnother use for leftover wine? Dessert! Try wine poached pears, red wine doughnuts or blueberry cabernet popsicles. See more recipes here.

Protect a Wine Bottle with a Thermal SockWhat pairs the best with wine? Friends, of course. If you don’t have a wine cozy at home, protect the bottle in a thermal sock and take it to go.

Know the Signs of Wine Gone BadUnsure whether your wine is still good? Sniff out bad wine… If it smells like wet dog, vinegar, cardboard, a farm yard, burnt rubber or cabbage, then it’s totally acceptable to toss it down the drain.

About RingboltProduced in the Margaret River wine region by Peter Gambetta, Ringbolt wines have consistently been one of the best-selling Australian wines in Vintages Essentials since the company’s launch. Each bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, the company’s specialty, combines elegance with power and is aged for 15+ months in French oak. The full bodied crimson wine shows a great harmony of characters, is fully structured and beautifully balanced. Ringbolt is poised to celebrate its 10th vintage in the Ontario market this Fall.

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